Professional Development Committee

The Professional Development Committee (PDC) is a specialised committee of GISA. The Committee supports student career development in a range of fields that incorporates the career goals and aspirations of all Institute students, and all career fields related to academic programs at the Institute. It fosters stronger ties between current students and alumni, helping bridge the gap between student life and entering the professional world. It strives to aid all Graduate Institute students with developing the skills and providing the guidance necessary to make the most of professional opportunities available to us here in International Geneva and beyond.

For general inquiries, please e-mail gisa.pdc@graduateinstitute.ch

President: Shubhangi Priya

For more than 5 years, the PDC has been working towards achieving these goals and continues to collaborate very extensively with the Institute’s Career Services and the Alumni department in organising CV and cover letter workshops, career fairs, alumni roundtables, and many more relevant events.

As a student initiative dedicated to increasing the employability potential of all Graduate Institute students, we aim to help develop in each of our peers the skillsets sought after by recruiters, not only through our collaborations with the Career Services and the Alumni department, but also through our own independent events and services. In our Inspira talks, for example, we invite professionals from esteemed organisations in Geneva to informally address students interested in their organisation. The PDC also provides CV and cover letter reviews to all students free of charge.

Websites for Job Searching

International

devex: https://www.devex.com/jobs
ReliefWeb: http://reliefweb.int/jobs
Idealist: http://www.idealist.org
Human Rights Careers: http://www.humanrightscareers.com
UN Career: https://uncareer.net
UN Jobs: http://unjobs.org
UN Careers: https://careers.un.org/

Geneva

GenevaJobs: http://www.genevajobs.org/
CAGI (International Gevena Welcome Centre): http://www.cagi.ch/fr/service-ong/bourse-d-emploi-ong/offres-d-emploi-stage-ou-benevolat.php
Geneve internationale: http://www.geneve-int.ch/fr/jobs
Indeed.ch (search Geneve): http://www.indeed.ch/

Useful Facebook Groups (especially for Geneva)

IHEID Job Network
GIA (Geneva Interns Association)
UN Intern Network Geneva (UNING)
Jobs in Geneva

General Tips on the Geneva Job Market

Finding work in Geneva can be a complicated task. Despite the abundance of NGOs, IOs, and the UN offices in the city, many students (even at the Masters level) are disappointed to learn that most internships are unpaid (or paid a very small stipend). It can be discouraging (especially for students who already have extensive work experience) to compete for (often unpaid) entry-level internships. Both paid and unpaid internships are generally quite competitive – however, we consistently hear from employers that IHEID students are very strong candidates, and we each have something unique to offer. There are many students at IHEID who do obtain paid part-time or full-time employment during their studies in Geneva, so there is hope!

Feel free to reach out to IHEID Career Services for a contact with a specific employer you’re interested in. It’s usually more successful to email a real person (rather than a general administrative address). And never underestimate the power of your Graduate Institute email signature when reaching out to employers.

If you are interested in a particular employer who does not have public postings for internships or jobs, sending a “cold application” with your CV and explaining your interest in working with them is often a wise strategy.

Articles and News on Professional Development

Career Advise: How to build your ‘LinkedIn Profile’ by Jerome Duberry

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